Challenging N.L.’S do-nothing dental policy

“After years of the provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy making progressive improvements to our Newfoundland and Labrador health care and social safety net, the Dwight Ball/cathy Bennett/ Dr. John Haggie Liberals have cut the Adult Basic Dental Program! Coverage for clients of the N.L. Provincial Drug Program (NLPDP) under the Access and 65+ plans is terminated (Edward Sawdon, Telegram, Sept. 2, 2016).”

So, what has happened since 2016? The current Liberal government has a “Do-nothing” policy when it comes to the lack of a low-income adult and seniors’ public dental program.

It is good that the Jagmeet Singh and Jack Harris federal New Democrats announced their 2019 pre-election campaign policy of having a National Public Dental Program for all Canadians. But really this serious matter hasn’t been covered enough by our provincial politicians before, during and after the last provincial election campaign. (Although I might add that I believe Allison Coffin’s provincial NDP caucus supports public dental coverage for some of our society’s most vulnerable people.)

And, yes there are cases where there are free dental clinics, like The Gathering Place in St. John’s, for example that help people in need of dental care. But charity dental care does not solve the problem. There are people in both urban and rural Newfoundland and Labrador who are doing without publicly accessible, and affordable dental care.

Studies, including one by the Ontario government, have shown that having no public dental care has cost the government and the health-care system millions and millions of dollars in the long term.

Instead of going for regular dental checkups and treatment, people end up in our doctors’ offices, Emergency Rooms and even hospital admissions due to severe dental/oral health issues, pain and infections. And, we know serious dental/oral health issues can and do affect anyone’s overall health; physically, emotionally and mentally.

I suppose one can say that our Liberal government saved money in the short-term by eliminating the adult basic dental program, but it will cost them much, much more in the long term by having no public dental program.

So, while our government has a “Do Nothing” policy and fails to reinstate this important and essential service, other jurisdictions are moving forward in having publicly accessible dental programs for their low-income adults and seniors. Let’s look at Ontario for example.

While I am no fan of the current Doug Ford Progressive Conservative Government, their Ministry of Health and Long-term care has recently announced dental coverage for their province’s low-income seniors:

“Introducing a new dental program for low-income seniors who lack benefits. Individual seniors with annual incomes of $19,300 or less, or senior couples with combined incomes of less than $32,300, will be able to receive dental services in public health units, community health centres and Aboriginal Health Access Centres across the province. The program would begin by late summer 2019. The dental care program will be an annual investment of approximately $90 million when fully implemented. By this coming winter, the program will expand to include new dental services in underserviced areas, including through mobile dental buses and an increased number of dental suites in public health units.”

So, Premier Dwight Ball, Finance Minister Tom Osborne, Health Minister Dr. John Haggie, and all Liberal MHA’S — what are going to do about it? Are you going to reinstate this program, yes or no? And, I want to know from the Opposition Progressive-conservatives, New Democrats and the Independent MHA what their policy is in regard to this badly needed dental plan?

Edward Sawdon St. John’s